Transform Your Life with Kriya Yoga

What is it like to live as a Kriya Yogi? Yogacharya O’Brian draws inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita to explore this question about how to live a spiritually conscious fulfilled life in today’s world.

Ellen Grace O'Brian (Yogacharya O’Brian) is an acclaimed teacher, award-winning author, and minister who has served seekers of spiritual enlightenment from all walks of life for over thirty years. She has published several books and audio programs about meditation, mindfulness and spiritual living, offering a refreshing and authentic voice that makes timeless wisdom accessible to the modern mind. She is the spiritual director of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, a meditation center in San Jose, CA. Through her teaching and publications, Yogacharya O’Brian helps people learn to live from the inside out with practices and insights for developing life-transforming skills to cultivate a spiritually awakened, fulfilled life.

WEBSITE: EllenGraceOBrian.com CSECenter.org

Podcast: Kriya Yoga Today with Yogacharya O’Brian

YouTube: Ellen Grace O’Brian
Instagram: @ellengraceobrian
Facebook: @ellengraceobrian

#Bhagavad Gita, #Meditation, #Jnana Yoga, #Karma Yoga, #Yamas

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Yogacharya O'Brian shared that the essence of Kriya Yoga is acting and being anchored in our spiritual identity rather than ego self.  I loved Yogacharya's clear and uplifting message about how everything we do; talking, sitting and walking or as she described, moving in the world, are manifestations of our state of mind. The spiritually awakened one is obvious through the life they live with calm wisdom. The discussion touched on how the practice of meditation is the opportunity to experience steady discernment of our spiritually awakened and enlightened nature. Knowing this truth inspires us to live our lives as a reflection of our spiritually conscious mind.  Yogacharya O'Brian shared how our study of the Bhagavad Gita can support our understanding of ourselves as spiritual beings but beyond that can answer any question we have about living a spiritually centered life. I was so uplifted and inspired by the discussion. 

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I really enjoyed our discussion of the Bhagavad Gita, and in particular Chapter 2 verse 54, the verse where Arjuna asks Krishna what it’s like to live as an enlightened person.  As Yogacharya O’Brian said, we each need to try on the idea and imagine what that might be like as part of our quest to live as Kriya Yogis. When imagining how a wise and calm sage would  speak, we discussed the importance of the yogic practices of harmlessness and truthfulness.  Arjuna also asks Krishna how a sage would sit, or meditate, and how they walk, or relate to the outer world.  Yogacharya’s perspective about all of this resting on the consciousness of each of us was illuminating.

Overcoming Barriers to Spiritual Awakening

How can we overcome the tendency to jeopardize our own spiritual journey? Swamini Svatmavidyananda offers lessons from the ancient, timeless teachings of the Upanishads which offer practical tools to overcome the most common barriers on the spiritual path.

@svatmavidyananda
#upanishads
#self-knowledge
#obstaclestospiritualawakening
#kriyayoga
#beyourself

Dr. Swamini Svatmavidyananda Saraswati is the resident acharya at Arsha Vijnana Gurukulum with several locations throughout the United States including Atlanta, Georgia and Eugene Oregon. Swaminiji has taught at several universities nationally, including UC Berkeley. She is widely recognized as a scholar of Advaita Vedanta and teaches nationally and internationally and is the author of the book we will discuss today; Overcoming Self-Sabotage in Self-Knowledge: Insights from the Upanishads As a founding member of the “Global Women's Peace Initiative,” she has traveled globally addressing the ever-increasing challenges that face humanity in a global ethos.  Swaminiji addresses contemporary challenges facing the world, from global warming to religious/social unrest, in her unfolding of the Upanishads, the foundational spiritual texts of the Hindu tradition. 

WEBSITE: arshavg.org

YouTube:@svatmavidyananda

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Swamini Svatmavidyananda’s way of teaching from the ancient scripture of the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita about overcoming self-sabotage to our spiritual awakening is so relatable to what most of us experience in our everyday lives. This is much like the way that Yogacharya teaches us. When Swamini ji  was asked why we identify with the ego and the ever-changing body and mind, rather than the limitless, free Self she said "It is a question of partial knowledge. Like the rope lying in the dark that we mistake for a snake. It is a misapprehension due to a lack of light. Not knowing what it is exactly makes it a cause of fear." This is a compassionate way of looking at our lack of knowledge and that the tools of spiritual practice shine the light taking away the fear.  I also loved her closing inspiration to our listeners: "Be yourself. Be Oneself. Let go of any inauthenticity. Don't worry about making mistakes. Make many new mistakes because they are a gateway to knowledge."

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I found Swamini ji’s teaching to be very practical and down to earth, which especially showed in her discussion of FOMO, the fear of missing out, that is so common in our world today.  She illuminated how the desire for instant gratification drives our attachment to the changing external world, and how we can begin to choose the permanent rather than the temporary.  I loved how she said that we can go from “ho hum”, that boredom and repetitiveness that comes when we overly focus on the temporary, to “So Hum”, which means “I am THAT, that Oneness”, referring to our permanent unchanging Self.

Let's Start Meditating!

Are you ready to begin meditating, or to recommit to a regular meditation practice? Swami Saradananda, meditation and yoga teacher and author of Sitting Comfortably discusses the benefits of a regular meditation practice and how to overcome obstacles to beginning and continuing one. 

Swami Saradananda has been practicing and teaching yoga and meditation for over 40 years. She holds an MA in Traditions of Yoga and Meditation from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. She has written several books on various aspects of yoga and meditation including the book being discussed in this episode, Sitting Comfortably: Preparing the Mind and Body for Peaceful Meditation. Swami Saradananda worked with the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers for 26 years and directed centers in New York, London, Toronto, New Delhi and the Himalayas. She is now teaching independently and offers personal mentoring for yogic and meditation practices.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: It was a delight to hear Swami Saradananda talk about meditation and all the supportive ways we can help ourselves stay steady in our meditation practice.  And asking why we stay steady in our practice, she says, is like asking "Do I want to be happy?" She shared that meditation helps with mental and physical wellbeing as well as spiritual awakening. There were so many small actions and steps Swami Saradananda shared with our Yoga Hour audience. This session can be listened to again and again to understand the importance of meditation as well as how to prepare our mind and body for our practice.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: This conversation will be supportive for those who want to begin a meditation practice and for those who want to recommit to a steady practice.  I enjoyed our conversation about happiness, and understanding that when we tie our happiness to external things, that happiness is transitory.  Our discussion of the many benefits of meditation included reducing stress, insomnia, anxiety, and depression; alleviating pain; increasing patience, compassion, energy, stamina and resilience.  We also discussed the importance of steady practice and letting go of preconceived ideas about what meditation should be like. 

The Ultimate Unity of All Beings

The realization that everything in the universe forms a single, integrated whole can be difficult to grasp. Author and Zen priest Brad Warner shares, in a light-hearted way, how a true understanding of Reality, the ultimate unity of all things instills in us a sense of responsibility for the welfare of all life.

Brad Warner is the author of numerous books including the book being discussed in this podcast, The Other Side of Nothing: The Zen Ethics of Time, Space, and Being. A Soto Zen teacher, he is also a punk bassist, filmmaker, and popular blogger who leads workshops and retreats around the world.  In addition to his books, his writing appears in Lion’s Roar, Tricycle and Buddhadharma. He hosts the Hardcore Zen podcast and presents frequently on his YouTube channel, Hard Core Zen.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: I really enjoyed the program with Brad Warner, the author of The Other Side of Nothing: The Zen Ethics of Time, Space, and Being. As a Zen priest and punk guitarist he offers a fresh and easy approach to teaching about nondualism and meditation. I especially appreciated the discussion about the importance of meditation. He said at first he found it boring and couldn't wait until the 20 minutes were over. He said that he had read about enlightenment experiences and expected that right away and was disappointed, but he kept at it and finally after a few years had some deep experiences as well as an understanding of how much better his life was when he meditated daily. He noticed how, when he missed days, life was more "wonky", not as smooth as it was when he meditated. He has now been practicing regularly for over 40 years. In his final comments, he encouraged the listeners to keep at it, even on days when we don't feel like it because it is worth it. This is something that Yogacharya O'Brian has also taught us many times. I also really appreciated how Dr. Trujillo pointed out how many of the practices of Zen Buddhism and our practices of Kriya Yoga overlap.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I enjoyed our discussion of the Zen and Kriya Yoga perspectives on non-duality, and I appreciated talking about some of the similarities between Zen and Kriya Yoga ethics.  In Brad Warner’s book, The Other Side of Nothing, he writes "This philosophical outlook is what they call nondualism.  There is no you. There is no me.  There is just one undivided nondual something of which you and I are aspects.” He further writes: “the fact that you and I don’t exist is a good reason to stop treating each other as badly as we humans tend to do.” It was great to explore these statements further with him. I particularly appreciated his perspective on the seemingly contradictory nature of some Zen teachings, as well as our discussion of harmlessness (ahimsa) from the yoga perspective, and the Buddhist Precept “I vow not to kill.”  

Meet the Storms of Life with Strength and Resilience

How can times of adversity be a time of personal transformation? Mark Nepo, esteemed poet and spiritual teacher, shares how we can traverse life's unavoidable storms by using the timeless teachings of the heart to deepen our roots and solidify our connection with Spirit.

With over a million copies sold, Mark Nepo inspired readers and seekers all over the world with his #1 New York Times bestseller The Book of Awakening. Beloved as a poet, teacher, and storyteller, Mark has been called “one of the finest spiritual guides of our time” and “an eloquent spiritual teacher.” A bestselling author, he has published twenty-three books and recorded fifteen audio projects. His most recent book is Surviving Storms: Finding the Strength to Meet Adversity which is being discussed on this program. Mark has appeared several times with Oprah on her Super Soul Sunday program on and was part of Oprah's The Life You Want Tour in 2014. He has also been interviewed on Good Morning America and is a regular columnist for Spirituality and Health magazine. Mark was given a Life-Achievement Award by AgeNation in 2015; in 2016 he was named by Watkins: Mind Body Spirit as one of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People, and was also chosen as one of Oprah Winfrey Network’s Super Soul 100, a group of inspired leaders using their gifts and voices to elevate humanity. Mark teaches and offers online webinars around the world.

Mark is offering a 3 session webinar based on his book Surviving Storms beginning February 4, 2023. For more information go to Live.MarkNepo.com

WEBSITE: MarkNepo.com FACEBOOK: @MarkNepo INSTAGRAM: Mark_Nepo

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Dr. Trujillo’s conversation with Mark about his book was very inspirational and helped me understand how knowing our true Self is most important in (using a tree metaphor) deepening our roots and strengthening our trunk so that we can survive the storms in life. He calls that our heart work. This is exactly what the teachings of Yoga are about, how to know our Self. Mark mentioned that the Hindu god, Ganesh, is not only the remover of obstacles but also the provider of obstacles. He said this means that the obstacles are put there to be our teachers. He says when we are confronted with storms in our lives, the only way is through. Our connection with God-or how we perceive what is greater than us, our connections with each other and all of life are what support us during difficult times. When we are going through the storms of life, it is most helpful to look at what is greater than ourselves—"how can I see that this difficulty is part of the greater whole of life and how can it become my teacher?"  These teachings are something we will all benefit from.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I really enjoyed discussing Mark Nepo’s book Surviving Storms, which I found to be both lyrical and accessible.  I loved the way the conversation wove together both grief and joy, as he writes in his poem “Adrift”, which he read during the interview.  The perspective that the existence of the universe and our life within it is the result of small acts of goodness was inspiring. I particularly appreciated his comments that our heart is our greatest teacher and our strongest muscle, and also his advice to listeners to become intimate with the workings of their heart and to stay in conversation with life through their heart. 

The Power of the Vedas and Mantra: Deepen Spiritual Awakening

The Vedas are considered the source texts of Yoga, which through study, practice, contemplation and understanding help with a more complete yogic development. Shantala Sriramaiah discusses how the study of the Vedas and how properly chanting the ancient mantras support us in deepening our spiritual growth.
Her website is vedastudies.com where she offers a free, introductory, online course in Vedic chanting.

Shantala Sriramaiah is a Vedic chanting teacher, and the founder of VedaStudies.com. She was born and raised in Bangalore, India where she studied Sanskrit and chanting from an early age, as part of her family tradition as well as in school. Much of her inspiration comes from her mother, Saroja, who taught chanting classes in their family home for over 30 years. Shantala aspires to continue her family tradition, using her long background in learning and development. She offers classes internationally online and in Brussels, Belgium where she currently lives with her husband and two children.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: The discussion with Shantala Sriramaiah, on the Vedas and Vedic mantras was both informative and intriguing. Her explanation of the ancient Vedas as mystical high caliber poetry was clear and succinct. She shared how the ancient Vedas through structure and rhythmic sound provide an absolutely clear vision of The Truth. Shantala shared how Vedic mantras provide a practice based approach to deepen the yoga (Oneness) experience through divinely structured chanting which carries a particular energy. The deep pranayama (breath control) focus of the Vedic mantra leads to pratyahara (interiorization of attention). I plan to access and experience accurately vocalized Vedic mantras on her SoundCloud link. She also has a free introductory Veda chanting course online.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: Shantala Sriramaiah shared with us how the study of the Vedas can help with a more complete yogic development.  I appreciated her description of the benefits of Vedic chanting as increased power of attention and concentration, both of which are so helpful in our meditation practice.  I found it fascinating that the rules of Vedic Sanskrit pronunciation and chanting originate in the Vedas themselves, in the Taittiriya Upanishad.  Shantala’s description of increased clarity as the benefit of chanting the Gayatri Mantra was helpful, and I can see that this increased clarity can help us in whatever situation we encounter. She chanted the Gayatri mantra so that listeners can hear the difference between Vedic chanting and singing a mantra.

Build Equity and Inclusion On and Off the Mat

Yoga principles guide us to build more equity and inclusion in our practice and in the world. Dr. Stacie Graham encourages yoga practitioners and professionals to take action, aligning their practice with the powerful work of social justice.

Stacie Graham is a sought-after expert on leadership, equity and inclusion. Dr. Graham is the author of the book Yoga As Resistance: Equity and Inclusion On and Off the Mat. Stacie is also the founder of OYA: Body-Mind-Spirit Retreats, which offers holistic wellness experiences for Black women and women of color in the UK and beyond. She is also the co-founder of Radical Darshan, a 300 hour yoga teacher training school that helps students unlearn and disrupt normalized systems through critical thinking as well as compassion. She is a qualified life coach, certified mindfulness instructor, and registered with Yoga Alliance as an experienced yoga teacher (E-RYT 500).

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Stacie Graham’s main work is teaching hatha yoga and she is very steeped in the spiritual teachings of Yoga and brought that practice to this conversation and to her book, Yoga as Resistance. Dr. Trujillo’s question about how she brought these two words, yoga and resistance, which seem the opposite of each other, for the title of her book was an important insight for me. Her understanding of the word equity means that all people have the access to the programs and teachings without barriers, perceived or not.
This is a great program for those who run a yoga studio, yoga teachers, for students of hatha yoga and also for students of yoga philosophy. 

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: In both our conversation and in her book Dr. Graham has a lovely way of guiding us to look at the inconsistencies between yoga philosophy and how yoga is often practiced in the Western world.  I appreciate her focus on yoga as a profound wisdom tradition that has much to offer in bringing more equity and inclusion to our world. I particularly appreciated looking at how the yoga practices of harmlessness (Ahimsa), non-stealing (Asteya)  and truthfulness (Satya), can guide our actions as we move toward a more inclusive future.

Compassionate Caregiving: The Transformative Power of Love

How can we find healing, transformation and spiritual growth through compassionate caregiving? John Baugher, PhD. is a teacher, author and end-of-life caregiver. He offers tools and practices that can support  caregivers through difficult times.

John Eric Baugher, PhD, has been a contemplative educator, social science researcher, and end-of-life caregiver for more than two decades. Dr. Baugher consults and offers workshops internationally on spiritual care, grief and transformation. He is the author of the book being discussed on this program, Contemplative Caregiving: Finding Healing, Compassion and Spiritual Growth Through End-of-Life Care.

WEBSITE: JohnEricBaugher.com

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This conversation with John Baugher on compassionate caregiving speaks brilliantly to caregiving as a spiritual practice. He shares profound experiences illustrating how there is an outer reason, an inner reason and a secret reason for doing what we do. I particularly resonated with the concept of “Loving our imperfect care”. Since we can be our own harshest critic, that moment can be used as an invitation to be a compasionate witness for ourselves as well as those to whom we are giving care. A moment of imperfection can be used for self-inquiry and compassion. John conveyed the profound understanding that through caregiving, we can discover joys we never thought possible. What a wonderful uplifting interview on an often difficult subject. 

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I am grateful to John Baugher for joining me today on The Yoga Hour to discuss his book Contemplative Caregiving. I appreciated his perspective that being a contemplative caregiver gives abundant opportunities for personal growth and transformation, in the setting of end-of-life care as well as care for children, friends, and parents or other loved ones.  We discussed how caregiving can be a spiritual practice, and how the act of caring itself is central to what it means to be human.  Since we are human, there will always be some ways that our care doesn’t match our intention, perhaps when we are stressed or overwhelmed ourselves.  In these situations, loving our imperfect care by seeing it in the wider context of our lives allows us to use self-compassion.